~SurfaceSpell Review (Judgement Day~

Hello everyone!

This is a review I've been meaning to put up for a while, I just really haven't had time. 

In November, I put in an order through TaobaoRing (which I can do a separate review on) for a dress from the indie brand SurfaceSpell. The dress in question? Judgement Day! (Checking the store, it seems to no longer be available there).

This dress struck me from the first time I saw it. I thought it was very beautiful and elegant. Originally, I thought the cross on the bottom was just a screen print, but when I found out it was actually embroidered, I was sold on getting the dress.

Here is a stock image of Judgement Day:

There are several different colors you can choose on this dress. I picked the black and gold version (black dress, gold embroidery). 

Ordering Process:

I placed my order in early November, and asked my SS if it would be possible to get it by December 5th, when I had a meet-up. Unfortunately, it didn't (which was fine in the end - I wore it for a tea party this month), but I was kind of annoyed when it came at the end of December instead. It can't really be helped, I guess. So I guess the turnaround time was around two months. Not abnormal for something custom made.

The Dress:

Now for the fun part. This section will be picture heavy.

It was packaged nicely (I can go into detail about that on a TaobaoRing review, because it's not really necessary right now). 

Anyway, the dress was quite beautiful, but I want to address some issues I had with it. 

First, let's talk about the bodice. The front is constructed pretty nicely, but as you can see, the lace is quite unfitting for this dress! I would definitely describe this as being a more gothic dress, with the religious theme, and when I saw they had used daisies, I had to laugh. I know that indie brands sometimes use what's at hand, but I felt like they could have picked a different lace for sure. The only way I can redeem this is by using the phrase "pushing up daisies". That works, right?

Also, the bow is kind of tiny and the ribbon is a bit cheap to me. I might replace that at some point. 

Let's take a look at the back of the bodice.

This is where I really had some issues. Look at the left strap! The right strap was fine, but the left strap was sewn together. I had to go into the inside of the dress and open the fabric to cut the threads that had made it this way. Quality control, people!! This was very disappointing coming from a reputable indie brand like SurfaceSpell!

The rest of the back is pretty similar to the front. Same materials. Same weird daisies.

The bottom of the dress I'm fine with. EXCEPT (and I don't have a picture of this on me) there was an overlap where the lace ended. They hadn't even cut it so it was the same all the way around. One of those circles was literally on top of another circle. 

Now for my favorite part. The embroidery is beautiful. I can't say anything bad about it. I love it and the gold is very beautiful.

Feedback: 

As you can see, this dress had a lot of issues. I contacted SurfaceSpell on Facebook (pretty much using these same pictures and describing the issues) and this was their reply. 

I really do hope they contacted the Taobao shop, because to me, some of these issues are unacceptable. I could understand some of these things coming from a newer or more inexperienced indie brand, but I'm very disappointed that the Taobao shop had these issues. I think if you want to order from SurfaceSpell, go with their Etsy shop!

I won't put a final score on this one, since most of what I use for that relates to shipping and communication (which was all done by my SS). 

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope this review was helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

I'll leave you with a picture of me wearing the dress :).

~Lolita Desu Review~

Greetings, all! Recently I ordered from a company called Lolita Desu, a place I'd been checking out every now and then before finally taking the plunge. The company is located in Japan and sells both secondhand and new J-fashion items, notably lolita, fairy kei, and boystyle. They also offer a variety of cute snacks, stationary, and plushies. It's a good place to get your kawaii fix for a reasonable price. The main staff members, Fox and Turtle, are incredibly kind and I found customer service to be quite good. 

Let's go into detail about what I ordered!

So, a while ago I owned "Cherish My Juicy Cherry" by BTSSB. I loved that dress, but impulsively sold it. I really ended up missing it and was delighted to find out that LD had the same colorway that I previously had available. Since I'm on the topic of this dress, I want to note the one flaw in my experience with LD. The stock picture for this dress was a different cut JSK than the one that it actually was, and the title of the JSK was listed wrongly as well. The dress was listed as the "Candy" JSK when it was actually the "Lilly" JSK. For me, this wasn't a huge deal, as the JSK they actually had was the same as my old one and the one I really wanted again - this was shown in the shop's pictures of the item. Knowing that that was the item I'd be getting, I went ahead and ordered it.

One thing nice about LD is that they offer free shipping if your order is $150 or more. My JSK was only $145, and I wanted to take advantage of that benefit, so I also ordered a couple more things (a cute headpiece, a sticker, and some K-pop cards [I have no clue what to do with these x)]). If you do get free shipping, the package will be sent either by airmail or EMS (whichever is most economical).

My order was placed on November 13th and I received my package on November 23rd, so it took ten days. This was fine for me as I wasn't in a rush to receive the package. I was pleased with how it was packaged - there was obvious care put into it and a cute snack was even included as an extra.

Here are some pictures of everything and how I received it!

Packaged in an envelope.

The cards and sticker were in the pink cardboard for protection.

Better pictures of the items:

The dress was gorgeous and in even better condition than the last JSK I had of this print. I loved that it was packaged very safely.

It was nice that the cards and stickers were put into this so they wouldn't be damaged.

Here is the adorable snack LD put in my package:

Overall, I was very pleased with my order and plan to order from LD again. I informed the company of the issue with the stock photo and name and they got back to me right away with an apology and promise to check better next time. They also stated that if I had gotten an unexpected dress, they would provide a refund and free gift. To me, this is a sign of great customer service.

I highly recommend Lolita Desu for secondhand lolita goods!

Final Score:

Communication: 5/5

Shipping: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

TOTAL: 5/5

Thank you for reading!

Updates!

Hello everyone!

I apologize for my lack of posts recently. Things have been hectic between work and social life stuff and I haven't had a chance to properly sit down and update. 

I will give a heads up on what I'll be posting about within the next couple of weeks:

• More 52 week challenge

• A review of Lolita Desu
  
• Small haul post

• Room tour

So look forward to these things! If I can, I'll also start posting more OOTD entries. Some upcoming outfits will actually be much more sweet than gothic (I've just been craving sweet lately for some reason??), so hopefully it'll be a nice change of pace for a bit.

Thanks for reading!!

Lolita 52 Week Challenge #2

Number 2: 5 Movies for Lolitas

Today's challenge is all about movies that lolitas might find enjoyable to watch. Read on for my top five favorite picks!

One - Kamikaze Girls

I guess we can start with the obvious. Kamikaze Girls is THE movie for lolitas, and for good reason. The main character is obsessed with the fashion and the film features Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. The friendship between Momoko and Ichigo is humorous and heartwarming. If you haven't seen this one, you better get on it!

Two - Crimson Peak

After seeing it recently, I'm convinced it should be on every gothic lolita's list. The wardrobe is stunning, the filmography is incredible, and the story is haunting. It's not overly gore-y, so if you have a queasy stomach, you should still be able to enjoy it. 

Three - The Phantom of the Opera

I love musicals, so it's not really a surprise for this movie to appear on my list. The entire aesthetic of PotO appeals to me in so many ways, and I feel like at this point the story is a classic. I think because of the elaborate outfits, lolitas will especially enjoy the scene "Masquerade", as seen above. 

Four - A Little Princess

This is a classic movie from my childhood that I used to watch countless times. It takes place in an English Victorian girl's boarding school, and tackles topics like classism, racism, and what it truly means to be a princess. It's a super touching film that will leave you in tears.

Five - The Secret Garden

Another classic movie about children living in Victorian England, this film is also a tearjerker. It's a wonderful and familiar story with lovely visuals, and I think lolitas will enjoy its positive commentary on nature, magic, and friendship.

~~~

So there you have it! My top five movies for lolitas. I hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to updating again soon!

A Spooky Halloweekend!

Hello everyone!

I apologize for the absence this weekend. Since it was Halloween, there was obviously a lot going on. Here's a run-down of how I spent my Halloween~

Saturday morning, my boyfriend and I traveled to a winery for a wine tasting and train ride. There was also a pumpkin patch event taking place, and the weather was gray and windy. It was a perfect Halloween day. 

Our train car was from 1910 and used to travel from St. Louis to San Francisco. It was pretty neat!

My boyfriend and I at the winery.

A friend on the hay-ride.

Very spoopy indeed.

The chosen pumpkin.

Train!

On the train.

The Frisco Line.

Coord Rundown:

OP: The Phantom and the Maiden

Headdress: Sweet Mildred

Shoes: Bodyline

Tights, Bag, and Jewelry are all offbrand.

~~~

That night, we went to a friend's house for a Halloween party. It was mostly eating, drinking, music, and 90s Cards Against Humanity. I wore a pirate-themed coord but since it was raining and I was kind of tired, I ended up changing into a dinosaur kigu halfway thru.

I don't have any good pics of my coord, unfortunately.

Bf was Ash from Evil Dead.

~~~

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. Let's hope the month of November is a good one!

Lolita 52 Week Challenge #1

I know this is a pretty old challenge now, but I figured it'd still be fun to do. I'm going to try to do absolutely every one of them, and I might do it as a day-by-day thing. We'll see!

Number 1: 5 pieces that every lolita wardrobe should have, regardless of style.

Now, I'm going to go ahead and say I'm not listing petticoat here. I feel like everyone knows that yes, you need a petticoat. Instead, I want to focus on more unique pieces I feel should be in one's lolita wardrobe.

One - At least one special occasion dress

I think every lolita needs at least one dress they can bring out for special occasions and events. It should be something with lovely textures that can make them feel like a million bucks, and something that you can make as OTT as you want without it seeming weird. As lolitas, I think we have a major right to feel like a princess in these clothes, and there's nothing that achieves that more than a really special, beautiful dress that's made even more special when worn for fancy events.

Two - Shoes you can walk in

I love how heels look just as much as the next person, but sometimes they're just not practical. In lolita, I often find myself walking around a lot because that's when I want to explore and do more things out in the town, or go to festivals, etc. I've been a victim of many a foot blister, and to prevent that I started wearing flat mary janes and teaparties to make my life easier. Seriously, get a flat pair of shoes as a backup, and even if you plan on wearing heels, take them with you just in case!

Three - A distinctly "YOU" piece

Headdress from Black Unicorn Shop on etsy.

I believe every lolita needs a piece in their wardrobe that fits their interests and/or personality - something that speaks to you on a spiritual level, whether it's a main piece or an accessory. Even if you can only coord it with a few things, having a piece that really brings you joy can be wonderful. Plus, even better if it can double as a room decoration.

Four - A solid-color main piece

This is a great thing for all lolitas to have because of versatility. If you're on a budget, a solid-color piece can be a lifesaver as a lolita since it can be coorded in variety of ways. Another great thing about these pieces is that they're often fairly cheap. Even solid-color, second-hand brand can be wonderful, and often they're less expensive than printed pieces.

Five - A legit blouse

In lolita, blouses are one of the easiest way to cut corners. Unfortunately, most button-up shirts you see at the mall just don't cut it. Investing in blouses is really important, because often times what you're wearing beneath a JSK or with a shirt can make or break your coord. I recommend getting several different styles so that you can mix it up. The blouse seen above is chiffon, a wonderful fabric for these pieces since they're so breathable.

And there you have it. Five items I think belong in every lolita wardrobe. 

Thanks for reading!

Lolita in the Workplace

Hello, all!

Today's article is about something I've seen mentioned a bit recently, and something that applies to me and my daily life! I want to talk about wearing lolita in the workplace - specifically the appropriateness, reactions of co-workers, and general thoughts concerning it. 

I'll begin by saying that I work as a librarian for two scientific organizations that share a space. One of these organizations is more research oriented, so they are often my patrons. Other people I serve are students, outside scientists, and citizens who are curious about something related to what we do here. The library also serves as a meeting room for a community group one day a week. So basically, I deal with many kinds of people on a regular basis. 

In the beginning, I didn't wear lolita to work because I wasn't sure what reactions would be, plus I had a position that required more moving around and sometimes working with older things that carried dust and dirt. Still, many of my co-workers commented on my style, I guess because it was slightly different than what they were used to seeing. Our company doesn't actually have a dress code, and many of our scientists are out in the field, so you get used to seeing people in t-shirts and khakis. On a flip-note, we also have a regulatory group that often wears business casual to work each day. It's a really mixed bag for sure.

When I began wearing lolita to work, it was pretty casual. Usually something like a simple JSK, flats, and a small or no petticoat. I figured, it wasn't like anyone here actually knows what lolita is, so they weren't going to be judging me if I didn't look perfect. I want to mention as well that our building is located on a college campus, and I often go for coffee runs at the student center. The dress-code for students these days seems to be pretty lazy, so even just wearing some weird dress was out-of-place in a way. I imagine the looks and comments I've gotten from students are similar to lolita who wear their coords to classes in college. Sometimes you get the stink-eye, and other times people will come up and compliment you profusely. Nothing new, really, since that's typically the general public's reaction as well. 

I don't think my "work coords" have changed too much. I've gotten a bit braver about wearing lolita to work because at this point, someone might pay me a compliment, but even my boss doesn't really say anything about it. If he does, it's positive. What this means to me is that the people at my company value my hard work more than they do what I look like. That's the good thing about working at a place with no dress code, I guess!

For reference on a work coord, here's what I'm wearing today. Ignore my messy office, please! We've been working on moving things around so it's been a bit chaotic.

Anyway, here are some general points I want to make if you're considering being a "work lolita":

• I would advise against wearing lolita to any job interview unless it's a company that values creativity. If you're applying for a super professional job, you want your abilities to be the main focus, not what you're wearing. 

• Always make sure that your workplace is OK with you wearing it. If you have a dress code, try to follow those limits. There might still be a way for you to wear classic or casual lolita if it follows the rules.

• If it's not okay, don't sweat it. Not being able to wear lolita to work doesn't make you any less of a lolita. Plus, it can always be a special thing for afternoons or weekends!

• If you work in a job where you are dealing with the public, it might be best to have your outfits be toned down. Regular classic or gothic might be a better option than OTT sweet. You have to remember that making a good impression on your workplace sometimes has to come before your style preferences.

I hope this post was helpful if you're considering wearing lolita in the office. Above all else, be professional! 

As a final goodbye, have a picture of my desktop monitor. A work lolita's gotta have her print wallpaper!!

Thanks for reading!